The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-11

and trus man. Don't forget the prayers you
learned at your mothers knee. You will be
thrown among bad and wicked men, but
always turn to Him to keep you an honest
man. God bless and keep you. I cannot
write more, but only pray that you will find
Samuel and return with him to the old farm.
Father joins me in sending our love and
With love and prayers to our Father to bring
you safely back, l am your loving
"I stood there with that letter in my
hand looking at that boy, and seemed
to sec the old farm away back home in
the States. 1t was all clear ter Inc now.
That little brother of mine, he was little
when I left home, had growed up and
followed me to Californy. He had gone
to New Orleans and listed with Taylor
and fought ther greasers in Mexico, and
then cum ter Californy. Poor little boy
could remember how he used ter creep
into my bed at home, and twine his lit
tie arms around my neck and listen to
the stories I ulster tell him. I felt some
thin warm trickle down my cheeks, and
I knew I was crying. 1 tell yer l felt
awful. I Just remembered those old
parents of mine, whom I had not written
to fer years. That was the hand writ of
my dear mother, God bless her memory!
We buried pore Charley, and I swore
vengeance agin all the cussed greasers
and their kind. And many's ther one as
hez paid interest on ther debt they owed
me- I writ home after that and sent em
some money, and told EN- Charly was
with me adoin well. I think God'll for
give the lie I told EN- then, cause ]
couldn't write the truth.
"After awhile I got letter saying
father was dead, and when no more let.
tiers come after that knew mother must
have died too. 1t kinder broke me all
up. So I moved up here among the
mountains to git away from ther people
in ther valley, and here I have lived for
many year. Thar's towns and cities
down thar now where / used ter ride on
ther plains and hunt and fish. And even
all ther mountains seems ter be all alive
with people. But the greasers are agoin
fast, and that's heap of satisfaction to
me. Yer look something like Charley,
youngster. Yer've got the same eyes and
ther same hair, and I kinder like you, and
if the paper'll do yer any good, why take
it. Old Sam hain't got no use fer any
thing much more, 'cept to be left alone"
And the old mans head sank upon his
breast in silent reverie, as the scenes and
thoughts of the past arose before his Wis
ion. Silently Hal and sought our hunks
and left Sam alone with his thoughts.
The next day bade adieu to Hal and
Monte Sam to renew my labors. With the
assistance of the papers and the presence
of the same Joe O'Campo, yet living, and
Sam, I was able to make outa very strong
case, sufficient to bring it to successful
compromise, from which my client and T
reaped handsome remuneration. Enough
for me to build me up practice that to-
day supportsa wife and little ones in COM
fort.
Monte Sam is not forgotten, and many
is the pleasant time I've since spent with
him, listening to his thrilling stories of
the early days in California. He yet
dwells in his mountain home, and wos
betide the Mexican, or, as he calls them,
''grcasers," who disturbs his retreat
IT. C. Kats, in Golden Era.